California Trip - April 2015

Sunday, Apr 26, we flew down to LAX, rented a car, then drove to Lake Elsinore where we would be staying until our trip to Disneyland!

We stayed with long-time family friends, Mark and Janine Williams. They are some of the best people I've ever known! The moment we walked in their house and they started speaking it was like a weird flashback experience. It had been at least 16 years since I had seen/heard them but they were still so familiar to me. It was so great seeing them again!

Waiting at the gate! Can you tell by my face this was early morning? Haha!

About to take off!

Gemma napped most of the flight (as did Tyler). I was too excited to sleep though. And I can't remember if Maisy napped at all...I think she was probably too excited to nap. 

The drive to the Williams' was longer than our flight, if you can believe it! 

This was the moment the girls first met! They don't know it, but they're going to be great friends!

This picture cracks me up!

After getting a little settled, we changed into our swimsuits and left for Oceanside with Megan and Travis!

To see the post from our trip to the beach, click HERE

We got back from the beach to find this- a chocolate fountain!!

Mark and Janine had a seminary party at their house and this was the dessert! They had lots leftover so we ate a lot (or, at least I did). Sooooo good. Why don't I own a chocolate fountain? I should own a chocolate fountain. Haha!

I'm bummed this is the only picture I have of Janine! 

We joked about bringing the chocolate fountain out to the hot tub, but I was scared it would be knocked into the water, so instead I just got the boys & Maisy a plate of treats!
Gemma and I got in the hot tub, but not for very long. Gemma was scared of it. Hahah! Megan and Josie didn't come in cause Josie had a little fever.

The next morning while I was in the shower I suddenly began to feel very nauseous. I got ready as fast as I could so I could just go sit on the couch and relax. By this point, Megan and Amanda, the oldest of the Williams kids, had arrived with their kids!
While sitting on the couch, chatting, it hit me. I made it to the bathroom just in time to throw up in the toilet! Then it dawned on me- I was dehydrated! The whole time at the beach I was good at reminding Maisy to drink lots of water, and having Gemma drink lots, but I didn't even think about myself getting enough! So dumb. Well, after I got that out of my system, I ate a little, and drank a lot of water and quickly began to feel better.
We all just hung out the remainder of the day and I took some pictures of the kids!

Got these babies matching outfits! I couldn't resist.

Beginning of April

Playing at the park! Gemma loved the swing!

Back at home....

Easter 2015

Gemma's first Easter! I'm glad Gemma's at the age where she can enjoy an Easter basket, even if "enjoy" means tipping the basket over, throwing the contents around on the floor, then sucking on the handle. Even just having her be able to sit up is for fun me cause it's a lot easier to get good pictures  

She may still be too little for egg hunts, but she's not too little for adorable Easter pics, or to eat the head off of a chocolate bunny!

I brought Gemma out to see what the Easter bunny left her. Set her on the floor next to the basket but she didn't even notice it cause she saw my lens cap sitting on the floor next to me. Silly girl! When I finally directed her attention to it, she pulled some stuff out and proceeded to suck on it. 

This Easter Sabbath fell on the same weekend as General Conference. Which I'm grateful for because it was a nice and relaxing Sunday; one where we didn't have to get all dressed up for church, and Tyler and I didn't have to teach our CTR 4 class. (Those 4 year olds are tiring! Especially when there's 9 of them!!)

We watched both sessions of General Conference here at home. Some talks I was able to listen to, others not so much due to a loud talking/crying baby, or the video freezing for 10 minutes at a time. We were streaming it online.

I'm so excited for when Gemma gets a little older and I can buy her paper dolls, coloring books and fresh crayons to keep her busy during conference just like my mom did for us growing up.

I love hearing Thomas S. Monson speak! Each talk he gives only strengthens my testimony that he is a prophet called of God.

Of the talks I remember, or was actually able to hear, my favorite was by Elder Robert D Hales. If you didn't hear his talk, you should! It was really good. I feel like all of the Facebook world needs to hear it. (As well as the rest of the world, of course, but you'll see why I say "Facebook world" when you hear the talk/read it.)

Anyways, we watched both sessions, got ready to go, then went over to the Oscarsons for dinner and games.

Easter was great this year, but I can't wait for next year!!

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I am so grateful for Jesus Christ and his atoning sacrifice for us. He lives and through him we, too, will live again. 

"Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives:

I know that my Redeemer lives!"